Happy Valley [BBC 1] [** Spoilers **]

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

It was on around May/June last year so I assume it'll be back around then this year too.

Happy Valley writer Sally Wainwright has admitted that she is feeling the "pressure" whilst writing the show's second series.

The crime drama was recommissioned for six new episodes after its highly successful first series last year.

Speaking at a BAFTA Screenwriting event in London, she said: "It's the first time I've felt pressure actually writing the second series of Happy Valley, because the first series was massively successful in a way I haven't experienced before.

"I've written three of the six episodes so far. I think it's really good. The test will be writing the last three episodes, and it's about maintaining that quality throughout the whole series. You need a clear focus so the audience feel that they're in good hands. It's scary but great."

Asked about the mixed response to Broadchurch's recent second series, Wainwright said that it is "weird" that the Chris Chibnall series struggled to live up to expectations.

"The thing with a new season is that you want to get it right. You want to make something that is worth watching, you don't just want to churn something out just for the sake of it," she explained.

"If something has been recommissioned it's because it's good. You've got to work hard to make sure the new series is just as good. Second series are often better than first series.

"It's weird that Broadchurch's second series hasn't appeared to have been as successful as the first.

"Second series are often better because of confidence. You've got a second series because the first one worked, so you're in a good place and your actors are in a good place.

"They tend to have a lot more about them because your characters can develop."

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

^Poor lady. We were all worried about a second series before Broadchurch S2 even aired. Her other show on ITV, Scott & Bailey varied in quality a lot between it's series.